Urban Nature: A collision of environments
by Cristina Fresquez
© Semanario 8/9/08

 

 

 

 

The Denver Botanic Gardens brought has found a way to merge the expression of street art with the beauty of nature though their 2008 signature exhibit, “Urban Nature”. An interesting concept, Urban Nature brings together two worlds that naturally co-exist in our modern times, yet are often viewed as separate, it utilizes street art to convey messages about our natural surroundings and the need to care for our environment.

 

Placing the paintings and murals alone as powerful and inspiring images amongst the natural settings of the gardens gives the exhibit a ‘live' quality, while intersecting the urban environment with the natural world. This exhibit also gives a new and positive way to view street art, often misunderstood as simple “graffiti”.

 

Choosing from hundreds of entries from street artists from across the country, over ten local artists were chosen to create and display works for the exhibit. Urban Nature displays 29 different paintings by 16 artists, including a 100 foot mural by nationally known street artist Mac.

 

A group of Art Major students studying at Metro State College of Denver (MSCD) sent in entries, some as individuals and others in pairs, and were selected to complete a number of art pieces for the exhibit. The group of student artists were able to work on their murals at MSCD during their Spring Break, where the majority of them lived and breathed their artwork for an entire week as they tirelessly worked to achieve artistic perfection.

 

“We were really excited – we were psyched when we found out that we were selected to display work for this exhibit. This is a really big deal. Once we found out that other artists like Lady Pink and Mac were also included, we were in awe,” commented artist Sophie Fernández, who paired with fellow student, Elisabeth Bunker.

 

“It was amazing. I was a bit nervous when I was creating these pieces, but I think that we succeeded. I am very glad that I had a chance to participate – it ended up being a lot bigger than I initially thought it would be.”

 

Fernández and Bunker paired to create two murals for the exhibit. “Float” is located in the Victorian Gardens and illustrates the connection that city dwellers have with everything else in life and in nature. “Cultivate” is located in the Scripture Gardens and portrays an image of a bonsai tree, depicting the delicate balance of nature and city and how the two coincide. “We created this image with the intent to cultivate the knowledge of our environment and its delicacy.”

 

Javier Flores, who recently graduated from MSCD and is pursuing is graduate degree in the arts, managed to complete three murals, “Sacred Tree of Life”, located in the Bristlecone Border; “Harmonia” and “Decay and Renewal”, located in the Lilac Garden.

 

“I think that all three pieces talk to the general viewer's social political conscious. I try to inspire people through my artwork and allow people the space to learn and grow for themselves,” commented Flores.

 

Flores utilized the imagery and symbols of flames of knowledge; branches that connect sky to earth; bearing fruit and knowledge; connections between living nature and human life; and the nurturing and caring of the environment.

 

“Decay and Renewal is more focused on birth, death and rebirth, which is a common life cycle, for both humans and our plant life – it's very symbolic. The theme and messaging with this piece ties in nicely to the floral elements of the gardens. Its representation is also very spiritual and of higher intelligence,” stated Flores.

 

Pointing out the image of a child (whose image was inspired by his niece) with two smoke stacks in the background, Flores explains, “all this pollution that we produce on a daily basis is destroying out plant life – which is absurd on our part because it's our plant life that produces a main staple of life – oxygen!” Flores hopes that his murals make people understand the urgent need to respect and take care of our earth and the abundant resources it provides us.

 

Another local artist selected to display artwork was metarealist artist Stevon Lucero, who has two works on display, “Gift of Corn” and “Scarlet Maiden”, which are located in the Sacred Earth Gardens.

 

“In the Gift of Corn, the image is stepping out of México, it was the culture of the Aztec people who gave the gift of corn to the rest of the world – the food we eat is Aztec food,” explained Lucero. “The image ties in nicely to the theme of the exhibit – we have these two worlds of contrast, the urban city - of concrete and steel and - nature, which is full of life and sustainability. With the Gift of Corn, it's not just the image of giving the gift of corn to the world, but the fact that this is a main staple – its not just food – it keeps us alive. There is a more profound and deeper meaning to this message.”

 

The Urban Nature exhibit has been open to the public and runs through the end of November, making Fall's mild weather a perfect time to visit the Denver Botanic Gardens' Urban Nature exhibit.

 

For more information visit, www.botanicgarden.org